Micheál Martin’s decision has not gone down well among the partyBARBARA LINDBERG

Fianna Fail’s decision to extend its confidence and supply agreement with Fine Gael until early 2020 was not a surprise, but its decision to hand Leo Varadkar a blank cheque certainly was. This news- paper reported five weeks ago that Micheál Martin was prepared to offer an extension of 12 months, while the taoiseach was seeking an additional 24. Mr Martin has split the difference and the government should survive until the spring of 2020.

Many in Fianna Fail are puzzled by the manner in which the extension was announced. Negotiators for both parties had been in talks for seven weeks, but that seems to have been a monumental waste of time. The announcement of a new deal contained not a single new demand from…

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